Slide open container

ABSTRACT

A cover portion ( 6 ) is slidable between a closed position in which it covers a holding space defined by a drawer portion ( 4 ). Upwardly opening slots ( 22 ) in the side walls ( 14 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) extend between front shoulders ( 26 ) and rear shoulders ( 24 ). Each slot ( 22 ) receives a stop member ( 54 ) projecting downwardly from the cover portion ( 6 ). Engagement of the stop members ( 54 ) with the shoulders ( 24, 26 ) limits sliding movement of the cover portion ( 6 ). A lock projection ( 30 ) extends laterally outwardly from each side wall ( 14 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) and is received into a corresponding recess ( 56 ) on the cover portion ( 6 ) to releasably lock the cover portion ( 6 ) in its closed position. The lock projections is are positioned in grooves ( 28 ), and the recesses ( 56 ) are formed in longitudinally extending tongues ( 58 ). The cover portion ( 6 ) is resilient, and an air-tight seal is formed between each tongue ( 58 ) and the bottom of the groove ( 28 ) into which it is received. The front end wall ( 16 ) of the drawer portion ( 4 ) has a ramp surface ( 34 ) to assist the removal of articles from the holding space.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a slide open container for articlesand, more particularly, to such a container that has a drawer portionand a cover portion slidable between a closed position and an openposition, sliding movement of said cover portion being limited byengagement of a stop member projecting into a slot and said coverportion being releasably locked into its closed position by engagementof a lock projection on the drawer portion in a recess formed on asidewall of the cover portion.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] Breath mint strips in the form of tissue-thin film are becomingincreasingly popular. Because of the physical characteristics of suchstrips, containers originally designed for use with more conventionaltablet-like breath mints generally do not maximize the ease of use ofthe strips. A container which reliably protects the strips fromcontamination but which easily dispenses the strips is a desirable goal.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides a slide open container comprising a drawerportion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion. Thecover portion is slidable between a closed position in which the coverportion at least substantially covers the holding space, and an openposition in which said space is accessible to a user.

[0004] According to an aspect of the invention, the drawer portion hasan outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom. The cover portion has a top wall and a side wall.The side wall has an inwardly facing recess positioned to receive thelock projection when the cover portion is in its closed position, toreleasably lock the cover portion in the closed position. The coverportion is sufficiently flexible to cause the side wall of the coverportion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on the top wallof the cover portion, to move the lock projection out of the recess.

[0005] A preferred feature of the invention is serrations formed on abottom surface of the drawer portion. The serrations are positioned tobe engaged by a first finger of a hand of a user as the user presses onthe top wall of the cover portion with another finger of the same handand, with said other finger, slides the cover portion toward the openposition. Another preferred feature is serrations formed on an outerside surface of the side wall of the cover portion. The serrations arepositioned to be engaged by a finger of a user. This helps the usermaintain a grip on the cover to assist sliding the cover between itsopen and closed positions.

[0006] The desired flexibility of the cover portion may be provided invarious ways. In the preferred embodiment, the top wall has a convexouter surface.

[0007] As used herein, the term “finger” includes all five digits of thehuman hand, including the thumb.

[0008] The details of the structure of the lock projection and recessand their positioning may also be varied. Preferably, the side wall ofthe cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinallyextending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. The outer sidesurface of the drawer portion has a groove extending therealong. Thegroove is positioned to slidably receive the tongue as the cover portionslides between its closed and open positions. The lock projection ispositioned in the groove, and the recess is formed in the tongue.

[0009] A feature of the invention is a side wall of the drawer portionthat includes the outer side surface and an upper edge portion. Theupper edge portion has an upwardly opening slot extending therealongfrom a front shoulder to a rear shoulder. The cover portion has a stopmember projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into theslot. Engagement of the stop member with the rear shoulder defines alimit of sliding movement of the cover portion as the cover portionslides into the open position.

[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, the container has aramped configuration to assist a user in removing an article from thecontainer. Containers with this feature include a drawer portion havinga bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above theinner surface, and an end wall extending between the inner surface andthe upper edge. The end wall has a ramped configuration to guide anarticle in the drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engagesthe article with a first finger and slides the article toward andagainst the end wall. This enables the user to grip the article betweenthe first finger and another finger of the same hand, to quickly andeasily remove the article from the container. In the preferredembodiment, the end wall has a ramp surface that curves continuouslyfrom the inner surface to the upper edge. Containers having the featureof a ramped configuration are also preferably provided with the lockprojection/recess feature described above.

[0011] According to still another aspect of the invention, one of thedrawer portion and the cover portion has a slot extending therealongfrom a front shoulder to a rear shoulder. The other of the drawerportion and the cover portion has a stop member projecting therefrom andslidably received into the slot. Engagement of the stop member with therear shoulder defines a limit of sliding movement of the cover portionas the cover portion slides into the open position. Preferably,engagement with the front shoulder defines a limit of sliding movementas the cover portion slides into the closed position.

[0012] The slot may be formed on either the cover portion or the drawerportion. However, to help maximize the simplicity and durability of thecontainer, the slot preferably is formed on an upper edge portion of aside wall of the drawer portion. The stop member projects downwardlyfrom the cover portion into the upwardly opening slot.

[0013] The side wall of the drawer portion of a container constructed inaccordance with the last mentioned aspect of the invention preferablyhas an outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom. The cover portion has a side wall with an inwardlyfacing recess positioned to receive the lock projection when the coverportion is in the closed position, to releasably lock the cover portionin the closed position. In the preferred configuration of the lockprojection and recess, the side wall of the cover portion includes alower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongue projectinglaterally inwardly therefrom. The outer side surface of the drawerportion has a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receivethe tongue as the cover portion slides between the open and closedpositions. The lock projection is positioned in the groove, and therecess is formed in the tongue.

[0014] Containers constructed according to this aspect of the inventionmay also include a variety of preferred features. One such feature isthe ramped configuration discussed above.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the container isprovided with an air-tight seal. The drawer portion has opposite outerside surfaces, and the cover portion has a top wall and opposite sidewalls. The cover portion is resiliently flexible to cause the side wallsof the cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses onthe top wall. Each side wall of the cover portion includes a lower edgeportion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterallyinwardly therefrom. Each outer side surface of the drawer portion has agroove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive acorresponding one of the tongues as the cover portion slides between theclosed position and the open position. The grooves have bottomspositioned a first distance apart, and the tongues are positioned asecond distance apart. The second distance is less than the firstdistance to cause the tongues to contact the bottoms of the grooves withsufficient pressure to form a air-tight seal therebetween.

[0016] In the currently preferred embodiment of the invention, acontainer with the air-tight seal feature also includes the feature of alock projection on the drawer portion extending into a recess on thecover portion. As described above, engagement of the lock projection inthe recess releasably locks the cover portion in the closed position.

[0017] The material or materials from which the container is made may bevaried. Preferably, the cover portion made of a plastic material havinga higher elasticity than the drawer portion. The currently mostpreferred materials are polypropylene for the cover portion andpolystyrene for the drawer portion.

[0018] These and other features and advantages will become apparent fromthe detailed description of the invention that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the drawings, like element designations refer to like partsthroughout, and:

[0020]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view looking toward the top, one side, andthe front of the preferred embodiment of the container, with the coverportion in a closed position.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the container shown in FIG.1.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the container shown in FIGS.1 and 2.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the container shown in FIGS.1-3.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIGS. 1-4.

[0025]FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container shown in FIGS. 1-5.

[0026]FIG. 7 is like FIG. 1 except that it shows the cover in an openposition.

[0027]FIG. 8 is like FIG. 7 except that it is taken looking toward thebottom of the container.

[0028]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9-9 inFIG. 6.

[0029]FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line10-10 in FIG. 9.

[0030]FIG. 11 is a fragmentary pictorial view of a front end portion ofthe cover of the container shown in FIGS. 1-10, looking toward thebottom of the cover portion.

[0031]FIG. 12 is a similar view of a front end portion of the drawerportion of the container.

[0032]FIG. 13 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a front cornerportion of the container shown in FIGS. 1-6, illustrating the releasablylocking of the cover in the closed position.

[0033]FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of the preferredembodiment, with the cover portion shown in an open position and thedrawer portion shown in elevation.

[0034]FIG. 15 is like FIG. 14 except that foreground portions of thedrawer portion are cut away and removal of a film strip from the drawerportion is illustrated.

[0035]FIG. 16 is like FIG. 6 except that it illustrates the positioningof the side walls of the cover portion when a user is pressing down onthe top wall of the cover portion to release the cover portion from itslocked closed position.

[0036]FIG. 17 is an enlargement of FIG. 4 shown juxtaposed to FIG. 18for purposes of comparison.

[0037]FIG. 18 is a front elevational view illustrating a user graspingthe container and pushing down on the top wall of the cover portion torelease the closed position locking of the cover portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The drawings show the presently preferred embodiment of theinvention. This embodiment is constructed in accordance with the bestmode of the invention currently known to the applicant. As illustratedin FIG. 15, the container 2 is being used for storing and dispensingbreath strips W of the tissue-thin configuration mentioned above. It isanticipated that the container of the invention will be used primarilyin connection with such edible thin strips. However, it is intended tobe understood that the container of the invention may also be used toadvantage for storing and dispensing other types of articles, includingbut not limited to pill-shaped articles.

[0039] The container 2 is a slide open container that includes a drawerportion 4 and a cover portion 6. The drawer portion 4 defines a holdingspace for articles, such as the breath strips W illustrated in FIG. 15.The cover portion 6 is slidable between a closed position, illustratedin FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 10, and an open position, illustrated in FIGS.7, 8, 14, and 15. In the closed position, the cover portion 6 at leastsubstantially covers the holding space. In the illustrated preferredembodiment, the cover portion continuously extends over the entiredrawer portion. In the open position, the holding space is accessible toa user to allow the user to remove articles from the holding space.

[0040] The drawer portion 4 includes a bottom wall 10, a back wall 12,opposite side walls 14, and a front wall 16. These walls together definethe holding space. Except for a short forward portion 18, the width ofthe drawer portion 4 is essentially constant. The forward portion 18 hasan enlarged width. The bottom surface of the forward portion 18 hasridges or serrations 20 formed thereon. The serrations 20 are positionedto be engaged by a first finger of a user's hand as the user presses onthe top wall 40 of the cover portion 6 with another finger of the samehand and, with that other finger, slides the cover portion 6 toward itsopen position. An outer rearwardly facing shoulder 32 is formed on eachside of the drawer portion 4 where the width of the drawer portion 4increases to the enlarged width of the front portion 18.

[0041] The cover portion 6 includes a top wall 40, a rear wall 42, andopposite side walls 46. A downwardly facing slot 44 is formed in therear wall 42. A user may engage the back wall 12 of the drawer portion 4by moving a finger through the slot 44 to enable the user to push on theback wall 12 to assist in moving the drawer portion 4 forwardly withrespect to the cover portion 6 so that the cover portion 6 moves towardsits open position. Preferably, serrations or ridges 48 are formed on theouter side surfaces of the side walls 46 of the cover portion 6 near therear of the cover portion 6. The serrations 48 are positioned to beengaged by the fingers of a user to allow the user to obtain a bettergrip on the cover portion 6. The top wall 40 of the cover portion 6extends all the way along the top of the container 2 to the forward edgeof the drawer portion 4. The side walls 46 of the cover portion 6terminate rearwardly of the front edge. Each side wall 46 has a frontend surface 50 that is at least closely adjacent to the outer shoulder32 on the corresponding side of the drawer portion 4 when the coverportion 6 is in its closed position. A forward end portion 52 of the topwall 40 projects forwardly from the interfaces between the front endsurfaces 50 and the top wall 40.

[0042] An important feature of the invention is a slot/stop memberarrangement to limit sliding movement of the cover portion 6 as thecover portion 6 slides into its closed position and its open position.One of the container portions 4, 6 has a slot 22 extending therealongfrom a front shoulder 26 to a rear shoulder 24. The other portion 4,6has a stop member 54 projecting therefrom and slidably received into theslot 22. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each side wall 14 ofthe drawer portion 4 has an upper edge portion with an upwardly openingslot 22 extending therealong from a front shoulder 26 to a rear shoulder24. A corresponding stop member 54 projects downwardly from the innersurface of the top wall 40 of the cover portion 6 adjacent to the innersurface of the corresponding side wall 46 of the cover portion 6. Thestop members 54 extend into their corresponding slots 22 to define thelimits of sliding movement of the cover portion 6. Engagement of thestop members 54 with the rear shoulders 24 limits rearward slidingmovement of the cover portion 6 and prevents the cover portion 6 frombeing moved rearwardly beyond its open position. In the closed positionof the cover portion 6, the projections 54 are at least closely adjacentto the front shoulders 26. They preferably abut the shoulders 26.

[0043] Another important feature of the invention is a lockprojection/recess arrangement. The drawer portion 4 has an outer sidesurface with a lock projection 30 extending laterally outwardlytherefrom. A side wall 46 of the cover portion 6 has an inwardly facingrecess 56 positioned to receive the lock projection 30 when the coverportion 6 is in its closed position. This releasably locks the coverportion 6 in its closed position. See FIGS. 6 and 13. The cover portion6 is sufficiently flexible to cause the side wall 46 of the coverportion 6 to bend laterally outwardly when a user presses on the topwall 40, to move the lock projection 30 out of the recess 56.Preferably, each side wall 14 of the drawer portion 4 has a lockprojection 30 extending laterally outwardly therefrom and each side wall46 of the cover portion 6 has a corresponding recess. To help providethe desired flexibility, the top wall 40 preferably has a convex outersurface that is at least partially flattened by a user pressing down onthe outer surface of the top wall 40. See FIG. 18. The flattening of thetop wall 40 bends at least the lower edges of the sidewalls 46 of thecover portion 6 laterally outwardly, to move the lock projections 30 outof the corresponding recesses 56. The releasing of the lockingengagement is illustrated in FIGS. 16-18. To move the cover portion 6toward its open position, the user presses downwardly and rearwardly onthe top wall 40 of the cover portion 6.

[0044] In the preferred embodiment, each side wall 46 of the coverportion 6 includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinallyextending tongue 58 projecting laterally inwardly therefrom. As can beseen in FIG. 10, the tongue 58 extends along about 70 percent of thelength of the cover portion 6. The outer side surface of thecorresponding side wall 14 of the drawer portion 4 has a groove 28extending therealong positioned to slidably received the tongue 58 asthe cover portion 6 slides between its closed position and its openposition. The tongue 58 and groove 28 can best been seen in FIGS. 11 and12. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, the groove 28 has a bottom 29, and thetop wall of the groove 28 is preferably beveled. Referring to FIGS. 10and 14, each of the lock projections 30 is positioned in the groove 28in the corresponding side wall 14 of the drawer portion 4 closelyadjacent to the forward end of the groove 28. Each recess 56 is formedin the corresponding tongue 58.

[0045] Another important feature of the invention is an air-tight sealbetween the drawer portion 4 and the cover portion 6. The 5 bottoms 29of the grooves 28 are positioned a first distance D apart. This distanceD is illustrated in FIG. 16. The tongues 58 are positioned a seconddistance apart that is less than the first distance. This causes thetongues 58 to contact the bottoms 29 of the grooves 28 with sufficientpressure to form an air-tight seal therebetween. The cover portion 6 isresiliently flexible. Preferably the cover portion 6 is made of aplastic material having a higher elasticity than the drawer portion 4.In the currently preferred embodiment, the cover portion 6 is madepolypropylene, and the drawer portion 4 is is made of polystyrene.

[0046] Another advantageous feature of the invention is a rampedconfiguration that assists in the removal of articles from the drawerportion 4. The bottom wall 10 of the drawer portion 4 has an upwardlyfacing inner surface. An upper edge of the forward enlarged widthportion 18 of the drawer portion 4 is spaced above the inner surface ofthe bottom wall 10. The front end wall 16 of the drawer portion 4extends between the inner surface and the upper edge. The inner surfaceof the end wall 16 is a ramp surface 34 that extends between the bottomwall inner surface and the upper edge. As can best be seen in FIGS. 10and 15, the ramp surface curves continuously from the inner surface tothe upper edge. It extends forwardly and upwardly from the wall thatforms the outer shoulder 32 to the forwardmost upper edge of the drawerportion 4.

[0047]FIG. 15 illustrates the manner in which the ramp surface 34 guidesan article W in the drawer portion 4 upwardly and outwardly when a userengages the article W with a finger and slides the article W toward andagainst the end wall 16. Preferably, as the user slides the articleagainst the ramp surface 34 of the end wall 16, the user positionsanother finger of the same hand to grip the article W between the fingersliding the article and the other finger to easily remove the articlefrom the drawer portion 4.

[0048] Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described herein, it is intended to be understood bythose skilled in the art that various modifications and omissions inform and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A slide open container comprising a drawerportion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portionslidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at leastsubstantially covers said holding space, and an open position in whichsaid space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having an outerside surface with a lock projection extending laterally outwardlytherefrom, and said cover portion having a top wall and a side wall withan inwardly facing recess positioned to receive said lock projectionwhen said cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably locksaid cover portion in said closed position; said cover portion beingsufficiently flexible to cause said side wall of said cover portion tobend laterally outwardly when a user presses on said top wall, to movesaid lock projection out of said recess.
 2. The container of claim 1,wherein said drawer portion has a bottom surface with serrations formedthereon, said serrations being positioned to be engaged by a firstfinger of a hand of a user as the user presses on said top wall withanother finger of the same hand of the user and, with said other finger,slides said cover portion toward said open position.
 3. The container ofclaim 2, wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.
 4. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.5. The container of claim 1, wherein said side wall of said coverportion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extendingtongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer sidesurface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slidesbetween said closed position and said open position; said lockprojection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formedin said tongue.
 6. The container of claim 2, wherein said side wall ofsaid cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinallyextending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outerside surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slidesbetween said closed position and said open position; said lockprojection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formedin said tongue.
 7. The container of claim 3, wherein said side wall ofsaid cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinallyextending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outerside surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slidesbetween said closed position and said open position; said lockprojection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formedin said tongue.
 8. The container of claim 4, wherein said side wall ofsaid cover portion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinallyextending tongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outerside surface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slidesbetween said closed position and said open position; said lockprojection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formedin said tongue.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein said drawer portionhas a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edgeportion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slotextending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and saidcover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom andslidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member withsaid rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said coverportion as said cover portion slides into said open position.
 10. Thecontainer of claim 2, wherein said drawer portion has a side wall thatincludes said outer side surface and an upper edge portion, said upperedge portion having an upwardly opening slot extending therealong from afront shoulder to a rear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stopmember projecting downwardly therefrom and slidably received into saidslot, engagement of said stop member with said rear shoulder defining alimit of sliding movement of said cover portion as said cover portionslides into said open position.
 11. The container of claim 4, whereinsaid drawer portion has a side wall that includes said outer sidesurface and an upper edge portion, said upper edge portion having anupwardly opening slot extending therealong from a front shoulder to arear shoulder; and said cover portion has a stop member projectingdownwardly therefrom and slidably received into said slot, engagement ofsaid stop member with said rear shoulder defining a limit of slidingmovement of said cover portion as said cover portion slides into saidopen position.
 12. The container of claim 5, wherein said drawer portionhas a side wall that includes said outer side surface and an upper edgeportion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slotextending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and saidcover portion has a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom andslidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member withsaid rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said coverportion as said cover portion slides into said open position.
 13. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said side wall of said cover portion hasan outer side surface with serrations formed thereon and positioned tobe engaged by a finger of a user.
 14. The container of claim 1, whereinsaid drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upperedge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extending betweensaid inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having a rampedconfiguration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly andoutwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of a handof the user and slides the article toward and against said end wall, toenable the user to grip the article between the first finger and anotherfinger of the same hand of the user.
 15. The container of claim 14,wherein said end wall has a ramp surface that curves continuously fromsaid inner surface to said upper edge.
 16. The container of claim 5,wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, anupper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wall extendingbetween said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wall having aramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portion upwardlyand outwardly when a user engages the article with a first finger of ahand of the user and slides the article toward and against said endwall, to enable the user to grip the article between the first fingerand another finger of the same hand of the user.
 17. The container ofclaim 9, wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an innersurface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wallextending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wallhaving a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portionupwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a firstfinger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and againstsaid end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the firstfinger and another finger of the same hand of the user.
 18. A slide opencontainer comprising a drawer portion defining a holding space forarticles, and a cover portion slidable between a closed position inwhich said cover portion at least substantially covers said holdingspace, and an open position in which said space is accessible to a user;said drawer portion having a side wall that includes an upper edgeportion, said upper edge portion having an upwardly opening slotextending therealong from a front shoulder to a rear shoulder; and saidcover portion having a stop member projecting downwardly therefrom andslidably received into said slot, engagement of said stop member withsaid rear shoulder defining a limit of sliding movement of said coverportion as said cover portion slides into said open position.
 19. Thecontainer of claim 18, wherein said side wall of said drawer portion hasan outer side surface with a lock projection extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom, and said cover portion has a side wall with aninwardly facing recess positioned to receive said lock projection whensaid cover portion is in said closed position, to releasably lock saidcover portion in said closed position.
 20. The container of claim 19,wherein said side wall of said cover portion includes a lower edgeportion having a longitudinally extending tongue projecting laterallyinwardly therefrom, and said outer side surface of said drawer portionhas a groove extending therealong positioned to slidably receive saidtongue as said cover portion slides between said closed position andsaid open position; said lock projection being positioned in saidgroove, and said recess being formed in said tongue.
 21. The containerof claim 18, wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wall with an innersurface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface, and an end wallextending between said inner surface and said upper edge; said end wallhaving a ramped configuration to guide an article in said drawer portionupwardly and outwardly when a user engages the article with a firstfinger of a hand of the user and slides the article toward and againstsaid end wall, to enable the user to grip the article between the firstfinger and another finger of the same hand of the user.
 22. Thecontainer of claim 19, wherein said drawer portion has a bottom wallwith an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said inner surface,and an end wall extending between said inner surface and said upperedge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide an article insaid drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a user engages thearticle with a first finger of a hand of the user and slides the articletoward and against said end wall, to enable the user to grip the articlebetween the first finger and another finger of the same hand of theuser.
 23. The container of claim 20, wherein said drawer portion has abottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spaced above said innersurface, and an end wall extending between said inner surface and saidupper edge; said end wall having a ramped configuration to guide anarticle in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when a userengages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user and slidesthe article toward and against said end wall, to enable the user to gripthe article between the first finger and another finger of the same handof the user.
 24. A slide open container comprising a drawer portiondefining a holding space for articles, and a cover portion slidablebetween a closed position in which said cover portion at leastsubstantially covers said holding space, and an open position in whichsaid space is accessible to a user; one of said drawer portion and saidcover portion having a slot extending therealong from a front shoulderto a rear shoulder; and the other of said drawer portion and said coverportion having a stop member projecting therefrom and slidably receivedinto said slot, engagement of said stop member with said front shoulderand said rear shoulder defining limits of sliding movement of said coverportion as said cover portion slides into said closed position and saidopen position, respectively.
 25. The container of claim 24, wherein saiddrawer portion includes a side wall having an outer side surface with alock projection extending laterally outwardly therefrom, and said coverportion has a side wall with an inwardly facing recess positioned toreceive said lock projection when said cover portion is in said closedposition, to releasably lock said cover portion in said closed position.26. The container of claim 25, wherein said side wall of said coverportion includes a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extendingtongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and said outer sidesurface of said drawer portion has a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive said tongue as said cover portion slidesbetween said closed position and said open position; said lockprojection being positioned in said groove, and said recess being formedin said tongue.
 27. The container of claim 24, wherein said drawerportion has a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spacedabove said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said innersurface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configurationto guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when auser engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user andslides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the userto grip the article between the first finger and another finger of thesame hand of the user.
 28. A slide open container comprising a drawerportion defining a holding space for articles, and a cover portionslidable between a closed position in which said cover portion at leastsubstantially covers said holding space, and an open position in whichsaid space is accessible to a user; said drawer portion having oppositeouter side surfaces each with a lock projection extending laterallyoutwardly therefrom, and said cover portion having a top wall andopposite side walls each with an inwardly facing recess positioned toreceive a corresponding one of said lock projections when said coverportion is in said closed position, to releasably lock said coverportion in said closed position; said cover portion being sufficientlyflexible to cause said side walls of said cover portion to bendlaterally outwardly when a user presses on said top wall, to move saidlock projections out of said recesses; each said side wall of said coverportion including a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extendingtongue projecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and each said outer sidesurface of said drawer portion having a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive a corresponding one of said tongues assaid cover portion slides between said closed position and said openposition; on each said outer side surface, said lock projection beingpositioned in said groove; on each said side wall, said recess beingformed in said tongue; and said grooves having bottoms positioned afirst distance apart, and said tongues being positioned a seconddistance apart, said second distance being less than said first distanceto cause said tongues to contact said bottoms of said grooves withsufficient pressure to form an air-tight seal therebetween.
 29. Thecontainer of claim 28, wherein said cover portion is made of a plasticmaterial having a higher elasticity than said drawer portion.
 30. Thecontainer of claim 29, wherein said cover portion is made ofpolypropylene, and said drawer portion is made of polystyrene.
 31. Thecontainer of claim 28, wherein said top wall has a convex outer surface.32. A slide open container comprising a drawer portion defining aholding space for articles, and a cover portion slidable between aclosed position in which said cover portion at least substantiallycovers said holding space, and an open position in which said space isaccessible to a user; said drawer portion having opposite outer sidesurfaces, said cover portion having a top wall and opposite side walls,and said cover portion being resiliently flexible to cause said sidewalls of said cover portion to bend laterally outwardly when a userpresses on said top wall; each said side wall of said cover portionincluding a lower edge portion having a longitudinally extending tongueprojecting laterally inwardly therefrom, and each said outer sidesurface of said drawer portion having a groove extending therealongpositioned to slidably receive a corresponding one of said tongues assaid cover portion slides between said closed position and said openposition; and said grooves having bottoms positioned a first distanceapart, and said tongues being positioned a second distance apart, saidsecond distance being less than said first distance to cause saidtongues to contact said bottoms of said grooves with sufficient pressureto form an air-tight seal therebetween.
 33. The container of claim 32,wherein said cover portion is made of a plastic material having a higherelasticity than said drawer portion.
 34. The container of claim 33,wherein said cover portion is made of polypropylene, and said drawerportion is made of polystyrene.
 35. The container of claim 32, whereinsaid top wall has a convex outer surface.
 36. A slide open containercomprising a drawer portion defining a holding space for articles, and acover portion slidable between a closed position in which said coverportion at least substantially covers said holding space, and an openposition in which said space is accessible to a user; said drawerportion having a bottom wall with an inner surface, an upper edge spacedabove said inner surface, and an end wall extending between said innersurface and said upper edge; said end wall having a ramped configurationto guide an article in said drawer portion upwardly and outwardly when auser engages the article with a first finger of a hand of the user andslides the article toward and against said end wall, to enable the userto grip the article between the first finger and another finger of thesame hand of the user.
 37. The container of claim 36, wherein said endwall has a ramp surface that curves continuously from said inner surfaceto said upper edge.